Processing apparatus for light sensitive material



y 16. 6 o A. GUINAU 3,392,653

PROCESSING APPARATUS FOR LIGHT SENSITIVE MATERIAL Filed Aug 23, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 16, 1968 o. A. GUINAU 3,392,653

PROCESSING APPARATUS FOR LIGHT SENSITIVE MATERIAL Fllec. Aug. 25, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet C July 16, 1968 o. A. GUINAU 3,392,653

PROCESSING APPARATUS FOR LIGHT SENSITIVE MATERIAL Filed Aug 23, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 July 16, 1968 o. A. GUINAU 3,392,653

PROCESSING APPARATUS FOR LIGHT SENSITIVE MATERIAL Flled Aug, 23, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

United States Patent 3,392,653 PROCESSING APPARATUS FOR LIGHT SENSITIVE MATERIAL Oscar Augustus Guinau, Slangeukruidlaan, Haarlern, Netherlands Filed Aug. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 481,768 Claims priority, application Netherlands, Aug. 26, 1964, 6409899 8 Claims. (Cl. 95-94) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for processing light sensitive material, wherein a cylinder is rotatably driven within a tank containing a treating liquid. A plurality of pressure rolls are placed around the cylinder. The pressure rolls are supported such that they are displaceable with respect to the cylinder in at least one direction. The pressure rolls are pressed against the surface of the cylinder by constraining members in the form of a chain or a set of ropes surrounding the cylinder, or in the form of individual constraining members each constraining one of the pressure rolls.

The invention relates to an apparatus for treating a light sensitive sheet or web material with a treating liquid contained in a tank, and in particular to an apparatus of this kind wherein the material is carried along by the surface of a relatively large cylinder rotating in the tank, the material being pressed against this surface by a plurality of rotatably supported smaller pressure rolls distributed over the circumference of the cylinder.

In the known devices of this kind, the pressure rolls are fixedly supported in the tank. In view of the upward pressure exerted on the cylinder, and of the variable thickness of the light sensitive material, this arrangement makes it very difficult to adjust the pressure exerted by the pressure rolls to the required value, and to keep it at this value. In addition, the known devices are difficult to clean.

It is an object of the invention to remove these disadvantages, and to provide an apparatus of the abovementioned kind which is very simple in construction and easy to clean, and wherein the pressure exerted on the material by the pressure rolls may be adjusted in a very simple manner, so that materials within a large thickness range may be treated. Further objects of the invention will appear from the detailed description thereof given hereinafter.

According'to the invention, the pressure rolls are supported in such manner that they are displaceable with respect to the cylinder in at least one direction, and they are pressed against the cylinder by at least one constraining member having an adjustable tension.

The apparatus according to the invention may be either provided with a common constraining member for all pressure rolls encircling the cylinder, or with individual constraining members for each pressure roll.

In a first embodiment of the invention, the pressure rolls are supported in links arranged on both sides of the cylinder at right angles with the axis of the same, and uniting the pressure rolls into a chain secured around the cylinder by means of a tightening device. After release of the tightening device, the chain with all the pressure rolls pertaining thereto may be removed from the apparatus in order to be cleaned; in addition, the tension of the chain may be varied by means of the tightening device in order to adjust the pressure exerted by the pressure rolls.

In order to improve the manner in which the material to betreated is guided through the apparatus, it is preferred to interconnect each pair of opposed links by connecting rods carrying a plurality of fiat spaced guiding members which guide the material along the cylinder surface. In order to prevent the guiding members from producing streaks on the material to be treated, it is preferred to use a construction wherein the: guiding members of successive link pairs are staggered in the direction of the cylinder axis. The links may suitably consist alternately of two flat strips arranged one behind the other in the direction of the cylinder axis, and of a single fiat strip, in such manner that the strips of a link consisting of two strips lie on both sides of a link consisting of a single strip at each junction.

Tightening members for tightening the chain are preferably attached to the shafts of the two extreme pressure rolls. The tightening members may be threaded, so that they may each be drawn against an ear attached to the tank by means of a nut. In an alternative construction, the tightening members at each end of the chain are respectively attached to the arms of a bell crank lever, so that the chain may be tightened by turning the bell crank lever; in this case, the length of the tightening members is adjustable at least at one end of the chain. This length adjustment may be obtained in a simple manner by attaching each tightening member at one end of the chain to the bell crank lever by means of a spring having at least one variable point of support.

The above-described construction wherein all pressure rolls may be simultaneously removed from the apparatus enables the cylinder and the pressure rolls to be very narrowly enclosed by the tank. In this case, the shaft of the cylinder may be supported in flat semicylindrical bearings secured to the inner wall of the tank, and closed at the top by means of detachable member's suspended from the edge of the tank; thus, the cylinder may likewise be readily removed from the tank.

The use of a tank narrowly enclosing the cylinder and the pressure rolls has the important advantage that the contact surface between the treating liquid and the air is reduced to a minimum, whereby a rapid degeneration of the treating liquid by the influence of the air is avoided. On the other hand, the tank may only contain a small quantity of the treating liquid in view of the slight space left between the tank and the cylinder, so that the liquid is strongly exposed to temperature variations and to contamination. In order to remove the last-mentioned disadvantages, it is preferred to enclose the tank in a jacket containing a medium kept at a constant temperature by a thermostat, and to take steps whereby the treating liquid is continuously renewed by means of a pump and an overflow.

In a second embodiment of the invention, the cylinder and the pressure rolls are supported within the tank in such manner that at least a part of the pressure rolls are displaceable in a horizontal direction and the cylinder is displaceable in a vertical direction, While the tightening device is formed by two endless ropes led through grooves of the pressure rolls. In this case, the two lowermost pressure rolls are preferably supported by a swinging member pivotable about a shaft supported in the tank. The ropes may be tightened in a simple manner by leading them over a tension roll arranged above the tank, and displaceable in a vertical direction. Preferably, the ropes are also led over a driven roll whereby any slip of the pressure rolls with respect to the material to be treated is effectively prevented.

In a third embodiment of theinvention, the pressure rolls are individually constrainedv For this purpose,. each pressure roll is supported in two bearings each radially displaceable in a slot of an associated side plate and each coupled by means of a resilient endless rope with a tightening member radially displaceable in a second slot of 3 the associated side plate, but adapted to be fixed therein in any desired position.

The apparatus according to the invention may be used for developing as well as for fixing. If desired, a plurality of such apparatus may be arranged in series, so that the material is passed successively through different baths. In this case, it is desirable to pass the material, when it leaves the tank, between two rotating rolls mounted on the tank of which one is immersed in a stop bath, so that the treatment to which the material was exposed in the tank is immediately interrupted when it leaves the same.

The invention will be further explained with reference to the accompanying drawing, showing several embodiments thereof.

FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic sectional view of a first embodiment of apparatus according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a modification of the tightening device used in the apparatus according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the chain formed by the pressure rolls and the links on the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of a guiding member arranged between the links of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows a diagrammatic sectional view of a second embodiment of apparatus according to the invention.

FIG. 6 shows a side view of a third embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention.

FIG. 7 shows a cross-section of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6.

The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is provided with a tank 1 adapted to receive the treating liquid and surrounded by a jacket 2 containing a medium kept at a constant temperature by a thermostat. A cylinder 3, supported within the tank 1 and having its surface coated with silicone rubber, is driven by a motor (not shown) with the aid of a gear 4. The speed of the motor is adjustable in such manner that the time required for one revolution of the cylinder may vary between about 1.5 minutes and about minutes.

The material to be treated is supplied to the apparatus through an inlet 5 and leaves the apparatus through an outlet 6. The material is carried along by the rotating drum cylinder 3 and is pressed against the surface of this drum cylinder by a plurality of pressure rolls 7 equally distributed over the surface of the cylinder.

The pressure rolls 7 are rotatably supported in links 8 uniting the pressure rolls into a chain secured around the cylinder by means of a tightening device. For this purpose, pairs of tightening members 9 and 10 are attached to the shafts of the two extreme pressure rolls. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, these tightening members are provided at opposite ends of the shafts and are threaded, and adapted to be drawn by means of nuts 11 and 12 against ears 13 and 14 attached to the tank of the apparatus proximate a respective tightening member. With the aid of the nuts 11 and 12, the force exerted by the pressure rolls may be adjusted in a simple manner; after the nuts have been entirely loosened, the complete chain may be removed from the apparatus for cleaning purposes. The cylinder 3 is supported in flat semicylindrical bearings 15 attached on each side of the cylinder to the inner wall of the tank and closed at their top by detachable members 16 suspended from the edge of the tank. After the screw 17 has been loosened, the member 16 may be removed, so that the cylinder 3 may be lifted out of the tank.

In the modification of the tightening device shown in FIG. 2, the tightening members 9 and 10 at each end of the chain are each connected to one of the arms of a bell crank lever 31, so that the chain may be tightened by turning the bell crank lever counterclockwise. The length of the tightening members 10 is variable, in order that the force exerted by the pressure rolls may be adjusted. For this purpose, a plate 18 is provided at the end of each of the tightening members 10, and a compression spring 19 acts against this plate with one of its ends, and against a nut 20 screwed onto a sleeve 21 attached to the lever 31 with its other end. By screwing the nut 20 onto the sleeve 21 through a larger or smaller distance, the force exerted by the pressure rolls may be adjusted.

In FIG. 3, the chain formed by the pressure rolls 7 and the links 8 is separately shown. As appears from FIGURE 3, the links consist alternately of two fiat strips 22 and 23, placed one behind the other in the direction of the axis of the cylinder, and of a single flat strip 24, in such manner that the strips 22 and 23 lie on both sides of the strip 24 at each pressure roll. Each pair of opposed links is interconnected by two connecting rods 25 and 26, carrying a plurality of fiat spaced guiding members 27. The guiding members 27 serve to guide the material to be treated along the surface of the cylinder. The shape of the guiding members has been shown in FIG. 4. In order to prevent the guiding members from forming streaks on the material to be treated, the guiding members of successive link pairs are staggered in the direction of the axis of the cylinder, as shown in FIG. 3.

When the treated material leaves the apparatus through outlet 6, it is preferably passed between two pressure rolls 28 and 29 (FIG. 1) of which roll 28 is driven by the motor, and roll 29 is immersed in a stop bath 30. Thus, the material is wetted by the liquid in the bath 30, so that the treatment is rapidly interrupted.

The above-described apparatus may be used for developing as well as for fixing, and is adapted to the treatment of any desired light sensitive material, such as papers, films, and the like. The treating liquid in the tank 1 is preferably continuously renewed by means of a pump (not shown) supplying fresh liquid to the tank, while the excess liquid is discharged from the tank through an overflow. In this manner, a constant liquid level is maintained, but the liquid is prevented, nevertheless, from being exhausted or fouled. The medium in the jacket 2 keeps the treating liquid at a constant temperature.

In the second embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 5, the shaft of the cylinder 3 is supported in such manner that the cylinder is freely displaceable in a vertical direction, as schematically indicated by the guiding members 32. The pressure rolls 33 around the surface of the cylinder 3 are supported in the tank 1 in such manner that they are freely displaceable in a horizontal direction, while the two lowermost pressure rolls 34 are supported by a swinging member 35 pivotable about a horizontal shaft supported in the tank 1; a constrained member is formed by two ropes 37 led through grooves of the pressure rolls 33 and 34; these grooves are spaced at equal distances from the ends of each pressure roll. Furthermore, the ropes 37 are led over a tension roll 38 arranged above the tank 1 and displaceable in a vertical direction; a suitable adjustment of this tension roll will ensure that the pressure rolls press against the cylinder 3 with the required force. In addition, the ropes 37 are led over a driven roll 39, so that they are continuously kept in motion; any slip of the pressure rolls is effectively avoided in this manner. The above-described movability of the cylinder and the various pressure rolls ensures that all pressure rolls press against the cylinder with substantially equal forces.

In the third embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the pressure rolls are individually constrained. Since the construction is identical for all pressure rolls, and for the two ends of each pressure roll, only one end of one pressure roll has been illustrated. The shaft of the pressure roll 7 is supported in a bearing 40 which is displaceable in a radial direction with respect to the axis of the cylinder within a slot of a side plate 41. The bearing 40 has a portion with a larger diameter provided with a groove for receiving a resilient endless rope 42. The rope 42 is also engaged in a similar groove in an enlarged portion of a tightening member 43. The tightening member 43 is radially displaceable in a second slot of the side plate 41, but may be fixed in any desired position by means of a nut 44. Thus, the force exerted by the pressure roll may be adjusted to a required value by shifting the tightening member 43 in the associated slot, and fixing it in the desired position by means of the nut.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for processing light sensitive material, comprising a tank for receiving a treating liquid, a cylinder rotatable in said tank, means for driving said cylinder, a plurality of pressure rolls arranged around and in parallel with said cylinder and having a smaller diameter than the same, a plurality of links arranged on both sides of said cylinder at right angles with the axis of the same, supporting and interconnecting the said pressure rolls so as to unite them into a chain, tightening means attached to the ends of said chain to secure the same around said cylinder, a plurality of connecting rods interconnecting opposed pairs of the said links, and a plurality of guiding members attached to the said connecting rods for guiding the material along the surface of said cylinder, the guiding members associated with successive link pairs being staggered in the direction of the axis of said cylinder.

2. Apparatus for processing light sensitive material, comprising a tank for receiving a treating liquid, a cylinder rotatable in said tank, means for driving said cylinder, a plurality of pressure rolls arranged around and in parallel with said cylinder and having a smaller diameter than the same, a plurality of links arranged on both sides of said cylinder at right angles with the axis of the same, supporting and interconnecting the said pressure rolls so as to unite them into a chain, and tightening means attached to the ends of said chain to secure the same around said cylinder, said links being of two types, the first of which is a single flat strip and the second of which is constituted by two superposed flat strips, the links of said first type alternating with the said links of said second type in such manner that the two flat strips of each link of said second type lie on both sides of the single strip of a link of said first type at each junction between successive links.

3. Apparatus for processing light sensitive material, comprising a tank for receiving a treating liquid, a cylinder rotatable in said tank, means for driving said cylinder, a plurality of pressure rolls arranged around and in parallel with said cylinder and having a smaller diameter than the same, a plurality of links arranged on both sides of said cylinder at right angles with the axis of the same, supporting and interconnecting the said pressure rolls so as to unite them into a chain, two pairs of threaded tightening members, each pair being attached to one of the two extreme pressure rolls at the opposite ends thereof, two pairs of ears attached to said tank in the vicinity of the said pairs of tightening members, and two pairs of nuts for drawing each tightening member against an associated one of the said ears to secure said chain around said cylinder.

4. Apparatus for processing light sensitive material, comprising a tank for receiving a treating liquid, a cylinder rotatable in said tank about a horizontal axis and supported in such manner as to be displaceable in a vertical direction, means for driving said cylinder, a plurality of pressure rolls arranged around and in parallel with said cylinder and having a smaller diameter than the same, means for supporting at least a part of the said pressure rolls in such manner that they are displaceable in a horizontal direction, a pair of endles ropes led through grooves of the said pressure rolls and pressing them against the surface of said cylinder, and means for adjusting the tension of said endless ropes.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, further com rising a swinging member pivotable about a horizontal axis and supporting the two lowermost ones of the said pressure rolls.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4,. wherein the said adjusting means comprise a tension roll arranged above said tank, engaging the said endless ropes, and displaceable in a vertical direction.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, further comprising an additional roll engaging the said endless ropes, and means for driving said additional roll.

8. Apparatus for processing light sensitive material, comprising a tank for receiving a treating liquid, a cylinder rotatable in said tank, means for driving said cylinder, a plurality of pressure rolls arranged around and in parallel with said cylinder and having a smaller diameter than the same, a pair of side plates each on one side of said cylinder and each provided with two concentric sets of slots extending in a radial direction with respect to said cylinder, a plurality of bearings for supporting the said pressure rolls, each displaceable in an associated slot of one of the sets, a plurality of tightening members each associated with one of the said bearings and each displaceable in an associated slot of the other set, a plurality of resilient endless ropes each coupling one of the said bearings with the associated tightening member, and means for fixing each of the said tightening members in the associated slot in any desired position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 432,903 7/ 1890 Sacco 93 1,946,627 2/ 1934 Karrer. 2,920,960 1/ 1960 Bushell 95-94 XR 2,981,171 4/1961 Hruby et a1. 2,981,453 4/1961 Kinzelman 226-194 XR 3,025,779 3/ 1962 Russell et al 95--94 3,107,596 10/1963 Arnold et a1 95-94 XR 3,144,817 8/1964 Aizawa 95-89 3,202,072 8/ 1965 Limberger 95-89 NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

F. L. BRAUN, Assistant Examiner. 

